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The Qatar Rally Team maintained their 100% record at the 2013 Dakar Rally by winning a third consecutive stage as the race covered more of Peru’s expansive desert. Nasser Al-Attiyah kept the party going for his team on Stage 3 as he followed up Carlos Sainz’s victory on the first day with a win of his own.

The Qatari driver and his sidekick Lucas Cruz started the day in seventh place before hunting down the cars in front of them to win the stage. The victory moves Nasser and Lucas into second place in the overall rankings.

"The stage win is a great result for the team and puts us in a good position to continue our winning strategy on Stage Four. To win the first three stages at the Dakar in our new Buggy is fantastic" Al Attiyah reported after the stage.

"Monday was a very tricky stage with difficult waypoints and lots of soft sand. For Lucas and myself to get our first victory of the year on a stage like this is very satisfying. What feels even better is that our new Buggy has won every stage so far at this Dakar Rally."

His navigator Lucas Cruz added: "Monday was not easy and there were a lot of potential mistakes to be made on the stage. We were not thinking at the beginning of the day that we should try and win the stage but our speed was very good. Winning this stage helps us to close the gap on our competitors."

The third day of 2013 Dakar was not so straightforward for Carlos and his co-driver Timo Gottschalk. The pair surrendered their overall lead on the route between Pisco and Nazca after suffering electrical problems as well as a puncture. Carlos and Timo have fallen down the leaderboard after a tough day but they will start Stage Four with 13 cars in front of them and a great opportunity to make up lost time.

"Our engine misfired in the first kilometre of SS03 and then the problem got worse and worse until we eventually came to a complete stop. I was thinking that the rally was over for us in this moment. We were able to flick the master switch and the power came back, but then the car was stopping and starting throughout the rest of the stage. I am just relieved that we made it to the end of stage so we can start again on Tuesday" said Carlos Sainz.

Timo Gottschalk, navigator of Carlos Sainz said: "We were nervous from the beginning of today’s stage because of the misfire. Each time our car stopped we couldn’t be sure it would start again. We ended up losing some time today but it could have been a lot worse for us."